WO2002039474A1 - Circuit interrupter with thermal trip adjustability - Google Patents
Circuit interrupter with thermal trip adjustability Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2002039474A1 WO2002039474A1 PCT/IB2001/002091 IB0102091W WO0239474A1 WO 2002039474 A1 WO2002039474 A1 WO 2002039474A1 IB 0102091 W IB0102091 W IB 0102091W WO 0239474 A1 WO0239474 A1 WO 0239474A1
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- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- trip
- bar assembly
- circuit interrupter
- thermal
- housing
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
- H01H71/74—Means for adjusting the conditions under which the device will function to provide protection
- H01H71/7427—Adjusting only the electrothermal mechanism
- H01H71/7445—Poly-phase adjustment
Definitions
- the present invention relates to circuit interrupters generally and, more specifically, to those kinds of circuit interrupters having a thermal tripping operation.
- Molded case circuit breakers and interrupters are well known in the art as exemplified by U.S. Patent No. 4,503,408 issued March 5, 1985, to Mrenna et al., and U.S. Patent 5,910,760 issued June 8, 1999 to Malingowski, etal, each of which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and incorporated herein by reference.
- circuit interrupters advantageously provide for automatic circuit interruption (opening of the contacts) when an overcurrent condition is determined to exist.
- One way of determining whether or not an overcurrent condition exists is to provide a trip mechanism with a rotatable trip bar assembly and a bimetal through which current flows.
- the bimetal reacts to overcurrent conditions by heating up and bending towards the trip bar assembly. Above a predetermined current level (overcurrent conditions), the bimetal bends far enough so as to cause a rotation of the trip bar assembly which sets in motion a tripping operation.
- thermal trip adjustability is effective, it unfortunately requires that a circuit interrupter be opened so as to provide access to internal portions thereof. This inconvenience effectively causes the adjustment to be limited to factory implemention rather than by the end user.
- trip mechanisms were subsequently developed in the prior art which enabled adjustment of the thermal tripping operation without requiring the opening of a circuit interrupter.
- These prior art trip mechanisms include a trip bar assembly that can slide longitudinally within the housing by means of an externally controlled mechanism.
- the trip bar assembly includes a thermal trip member having contact portions which protrude, to differing extents, towards the bimetal. As the trip bar assembly is caused to slide, different contact portions of the thermal trip member are positioned to make contact with a deflected bimetal, thus increasing or decreasing the amount of deflection that is necessary to cause a thermal tripping operation.
- a circuit interrupter which includes a housing, separable main contacts within the housing, and an operating mechanism within the housing and interconnected with the separable main contacts.
- a trip mechanism is disposed within the housing that includes a trip bar assembly rotatable about an axis and that, when rotated, generates a tripping operation causing the operating mechanism to open the contacts.
- the trip bar assembly includes a trip member translatable along the axis.
- the trip mechanism includes a tripping actuator movable along a predetermined path of travel as a function of electrical current.
- the tripping actuator contacts a contact area of the trip member at a predetermined location along the predetermined path of travel of the tripping actuator and causes the trip bar assembly to rotate and generate the tripping operation upon a predetermined current threshold.
- the contact area is contacted by the tripping actuator at a different location along the predetermined path of travel of the tripping actuator whereby the predetermined current threshold is changed.
- Figure 1 is an orthogonal view of a molded case circuit interrupter embodying the present invention.
- Figure 2 is an exploded view of the base, primary cover, and secondary cover of the circuit interrupter of Figure 1.
- Figure 3 is a side elevational view of an internal portion of the circuit interrupter of Figure 1.
- Figure 4 is an orthogonal view of an internal portion of the circuit interrupter of Figure 1 without the base and covers.
- Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C are orthogonal views of the trip bar assembly of the circuit interrupter of Figure 1.
- Figures 6A and 6B are orthogonal views of one of the automatic trip assemblies of the circuit interrupter of Figure 1.
- Figure 7 is an orthogonal view of the trip bar assembly of Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C with the thermal trip slider removed.
- Figure 8 is an orthogonal view of the trip bar of the trip bar assembly of
- Figure 9 is an orthogonal view of the thermal trip slider of the trip bar assembly.
- Figure 10A is an orthogonal cut-away view of the trip bar of the trip bar assembly.
- Figure 10B is a view similar to that shown in Figure 10A but with the thermal trip slider inserted.
- Figure 11 is a partially exploded view of one of the automatic trip assemblies of the circuit interrupter of Figure 1.
- Figures 12A and 12B are orthogonal views of a lever which is part of the automatic trip assembly shown in Figure 11.
- Figure 13 is an overhead close-up view of a portion of the primary cover of the circuit interrupter of Figure 1 showing how an adjustment knob is inserted.
- Figures 14A, 14B, and 14C are orthogonal views of the adjustment knob shown in Figure 13.
- Figures 15A and 15B are orthogonal views of a connection member that interconnects with the adjustment knob.
- Figure 16 is an orthogonal view of the interconnection of the connection member with the adjustment knob.
- Figures 17A and 17B are orthogonal views of the interaction of the automatic trip assembly shown in Figure 11 with the trip bar assembly shown in Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C.
- Figures 18A, 18B, and 18C are overhead views of the interaction of the lever of the automatic trip assembly shown in Figure 11 with the assembly shown in Figure 16.
- FIGS 19A and 19B are overhead views of the relative positioning of the thermal trip slider shown in Figure 9 with respect to screws attached, to the bimetals of the automatic trip assemblies of the circuit interrupter of Figure 1.
- circuit breaker Circuit Interrupter With A Magnetically-Induced Automatic Trip Assembly Having Adjustable Armature Biasing
- Base 12 includes outside sidewalls 18 and 19, and internal phase walls 20, 21 , and 22.
- Holes or openings 23A are provided in primary cover 14 for accepting screws or other attaching devices that enter corresponding holes or openings 23B in base 12 for fastening primary cover 14 to base 12.
- Holes or openings 24A are provided in secondary cover 16 for accepting screws or other attaching devices that enter corresponding holes or openings 24B in primary cover 14 for fastening secondary cover 16 to primary cover 14.
- Holes 27A in secondary cover 16 and corresponding holes 27B in primary cover 14 are for attachment of external accessories.
- Hole 28B in primary cover 14 is for insertion of an adjustment knob (not shown) for adjusting the thermal tripping operation of circuit breaker 10 in a manner described in detail below.
- Hole 28A in secondary cover 16 is for providing external access to the adjustment knob that is inserted in primary cover 14.
- Holes 25, which feed through secondary cover 16, primary cover 14, and into base 12 are provided for access to electrical terminal areas of circuit breaker 10.
- Holes 26A, which feed through secondary cover 16, correspond to holes 26 that feed through primary cover 14 and base 12, and are provided for attaching the entire circuit breaker assembly onto a wall, or into a DIN rail back panel or a load center, or the like.
- Secondary cover 16 includes cavities 31 , 32, and 33 for placement of internal accessories of circuit breaker 10.
- Secondary cover 16 includes a secondary cover handle opening 36.
- Primary cover 14 includes a primary cover handle opening 38.
- a handle 40 ( Figure 1) protrudes through openings 36 and 38 and is used in a conventional manner to manually open and close the contacts of circuit breaker 10 and to reset circuit breaker 10 when it is in a tripped state.
- Handle 40 may also provide an indication of the status of circuit breaker 10 whereby the position of handle 40 corresponds with a legend (not shown) on secondary cover 16 near handle opening 36 which clearly indicates whether circuit breaker 10 is ON (contacts closed), OFF (contacts open), or TRIPPED (contacts open due to, for example, an overcurrent condition).
- Secondary cover 16 and primary cover 14 include rectangular openings 42 and 44, respectively, through which protrudes a top portion 46 ( Figure 1 ) of a button for a push-to-trip actuator. Also shown are load conductor openings 48 in base 12 that shield and protect load terminals 50.
- circuit breaker 10 is depicted as a four phase circuit breaker, the present invention is not limited to four-phase operation.
- FIG. 3 a longitudinal section of a side elevation, partially broken away and partially in phantom, of circuit breaker 10 is shown having a load terminal 50 and a line terminal 52.
- a plasma arc acceleration chamber 54 comprising a slot motor assembly 56 and an arc extinguisher assembly 58.
- each phase of circuit breaker 10 has its own load terminal 50, line terminal 52, plasma arc acceleration chamber 54, slot motor assembly 56, arc extinguisher assembly 58, and contact assembly 60. Reference is often made herein to only one such group of components and their constituents for the sake of simplicity.
- Each slot motor assembly 56 is shown as including a separate upper slot motor assembly 56A and a separate lower slot motor assembly 56B.
- Upper slot motor assembly 56A includes an upper slot motor assembly housing 66 within which are stacked side-by-side U-shaped upper slot motor assembly plates 68.
- lower slot motor assembly 56B includes a lower slot motor assembly housing 70 within which are stacked side-by-side lower slot motor assembly plates 72. Plates 68 and 72 are both composed of magnetic material.
- Each arc extinguisher assembly 58 includes an arc chute 74 within which are positioned spaced-apart generally parallel angularly offset arc chute plates 76 and an upper arc runner 76A. As known to one of ordinary skill in the art, the function of arc extinguisher assembly 58 is to receive and dissipate electrical arcs that are created upon separation of the contacts of the circuit breaker.
- Each contact assembly 60 is shown as comprising a movable contact arm 78 supporting thereon a movable contact 80, and a stationary contact arm 82 supporting thereon a stationary contact 84.
- Each stationary contact arm 82 is electrically connected to a line terminal 52, and each movable contact arm 78 is electrically connected to a load terminal 50.
- a crossbar assembly is also shown.
- Crossbar assembly 86 which traverses the width of circuit breaker 10 and is rotatably disposed on an internal portion of base 12 (not shown). Actuation of operating mechanism 62 causes crossbar assembly 86 and movable contact arms 78 to rotate into or out of a disposition which places movable contacts 80 into or out of a disposition of electrical continuity with fixed contacts 84.
- Crossbar assembly 86 includes a movable contact cam housing 88 for each movable contact arm 78.
- a pivot pin 90 is disposed in each housing 88 upon which a movable contact arm 78 is rotatably disposed.
- movable contact arms 78 rotate in unison with the rotation of crossbar assembly 86 (and housings 88) as crossbar assembly 86 is rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise by action of operating mechanism 62.
- each movable contact arm 78 is free to rotate (within limits) independently of the rotation of crossbar assembly 86.
- each movable contact arm 78 can rotate upwardly about pivot pin 90 under the influence of high magnetic forces. This is referred to as "blow-open" operation.
- Operating mechanism 62 comprises a handle arm or handle assembly 92 (connected to handle 40), a configured plate or cradle 94, an upper toggle link 96, an interlinked lower toggle link 98, and an upper toggle link pivot pin 100 which interlinks upper toggle link 96 with cradle 94.
- Lower toggle link 98 is pivotally interconnected with upper toggle link 96 by way of an intermediate toggle link pivot pin 102, and with crossbar assembly 86 at pivot pin 90.
- a cradle pivot pin 104 which is laterally and rotatably disposed between parallel, spaced apart operating mechanism support members or sideplates 106. Cradle 94 is free to rotate (within limits) via cradle pivot pin 104.
- a handle assembly roller 108 which is disposed in and supported by handle assembly 92 in such a manner as to make mechanical contact with (roll against) arcuate portions of a back region 110 of cradle 94 during a "resetting" operation of circuit breaker 10.
- a main stop bar 112 is laterally disposed between sideplates 106, and provides a limit to the counter- clockwise movement of cradle 94.
- FIG 4 shown is an orthogonal view of an internal portion of circuit breaker 10. Shown are many of the components described above in connection with Figure 3 and their configuration in the exemplary embodiment of four phase circuit breaker 10.
- operating mechanism 62 is shown for the ON disposition of circuit breaker 10. in this disposition, contacts 80 and 84 are closed (in contact with each other) whereby electrical current may flow from load terminals 50 to line terminals 52. Operating mechanism 62 will assume the TRIPPED disposition of circuit breaker 10 in certain circumstances.
- the TRIPPED disposition is related to an opening of circuit breaker 10 caused by a manual tripping operation, an accessory tripping operation, or the thermally or magnetically induced reaction of trip mechanism 64 to the magnitude of the current flowing between load conductors 50 and line conductors 52.
- the automatic opening of circuit breaker 10 due to the operation of trip mechanism 64 is described in detail below. Whatever the nature of a tripping operation, it is initiated by a force causing trip bar assembly 122 to rotate clockwise (overcoming a spring force biasing assembly 122 in the opposite direction) and away from an intermediate latch 114.
- latch 114 releases cradle 94 (which had been held in place at a lower portion 116 of a latch cutout region 118) and enables it to be rotated counter-clockwise under the influence of tension springs (not shown) interacting between the top of handle assembly 92 and the intermediate toggle link pivot pin 102.
- tension springs (not shown) interacting between the top of handle assembly 92 and the intermediate toggle link pivot pin 102.
- the resulting collapse of the toggle arrangement causes pivot pin 90 to be rotated clockwise and upwardly to thus cause crossbar assembly 86 to similarly rotate.
- This rotation of crossbar assembly 86 causes a clockwise motion of movable contact arms 78, resulting in a separation of contacts 80 and 84.
- trip bar assembly 122 of trip rriechanism 64 of the exemplary embodiment includes a trip bar or shaft 140 to which is connected thermal trip bars or paddles 142, magnetic trip bars or paddles 144, a multi-purpose trip member 146, and accessory trip levers 148 which attach to trip bar 140 by way of attaching structures 166.
- Trip bar assembly 122 also includes an intermediate latch interface 150 that locks with intermediate latch 114 ( Figure 3) when trip bar assembly 122 has not rotated clockwise due to a tripping operation.
- Circuit breaker 10 includes automatic thermal and magnetic tripping operations which can cause trip bar assembly 122 to rotate in the clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 3) and thereby release cradle 94.
- the structure for providing these additional tripping operations can be seen in Figure 3 which shows circuit breaker 10 in its ON (non-TRIPPED) disposition, with latch 114 abutted hard against lower portion 116 of latch cutout region 118 of cradle 94, and latch 114 held in place by intermediate latch interface 150 (Figure 5A) of trip bar assembly 122.
- an automatic trip assembly 250 of trip mechanism 64 that is positioned in close proximity to trip bar assembly 122.
- an automatic trip assembly 250 is provided for each of the four phases of circuit breaker 10, with reference numerals 250A, 250B, 250C, and 250D used for labeling purposes. As described below, automatic trip assembly 250C is slightly different from the other automatic trip assemblies. Each assembly 250 interfaces with one of thermal trip bars 142 and one of magnetic trip bars 144 of trip bar assembly
- automatic trip assembly 250A and its various components (automatic trip assemblies 250B and 250D are identical).
- automatic trip assemblies 250B and 250D are identical.
- a thorough description of the structure and operation of automatic trip assembly 250A and its components is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. , Eaton Docket
- assembly 250A includes a magnetic yoke 252, a bimetal
- automatic trip assembly 250A also includes an adjustment bracket 304 having a plurality of protrusion members 305, with one end of torsion spring 300 abutted against one of protrusion members 305.
- Load terminal 50 includes a substantially planar portion 258 from which protrudes, in approximately perpendicular fashion, a bottom connector portion 260 for connecting with an external conductor by means of a device such as a self-retaining collar.
- an automatic trip assembly 250 When implemented in circuit breaker 10 as shown in Figure 3, an automatic trip assembly 250 (any one of automatic trip assemblies 250A, 250B, 250C, or 250D) operates to cause a clockwise rotation of trip bar assembly 122, thereby releasing cradle 94 which leads to the TRIPPED disposition, whenever overcurrent conditions exist through the phase associated with that automatic trip assembly 250.
- electrical current flows (in the following or opposite direction) from load terminal 50, through bimetal 254, from bimetal 254 to movable contact arm 78 through a conductive cord 262 that is welded therebetween, through closed contacts 80 and 84, and from stationary contact arm 82 to line terminal 52.
- An automatic trip assembly 250 reacts to an undesirably high amount of electrical current flowing through it, providing both a thermal and a magnetic tripping operation.
- a magnetic tripping operation is provided by an automatic trip assembly 250 in the following manner.
- a magnetic field is created in magnetic yoke 252 having a strength that is proportional to the magnitude of the current.
- This magnetic field generates an attractive force that has a tendency to pull bottom 256A of magnetic clapper 256 towards yoke 252 against the bias force provided by spring 300.
- the bias force provided by spring 300 prevents any substantial rotation of clapper 256.
- a threshold level magnetic field is created that overcomes the spring tension and enables bottom portion 256A of clapper 256 to forcefully rotate counter-clockwise (as viewed in Figure 6A) towards yoke 252.
- bottom portion 256A of clapper 256 makes contact with one of magnetic trip paddles or members 144 which, as shown in Figure 3, is partially positioned between clapper 256 and yoke 252.
- This contact moves magnetic trip member 144 to the right, thereby forcing trip bar assembly 122 to rotate in the clockwise direction.
- the predetermined current level that causes this magnetic tripping operation can be adjusted. Adjustment may be accomplished by implementation of a different sized (wire diameter) or configured torsion spring 300, or one of different material, thereby reducing or increasing the spring tension. However, in a manner described in detail in
- An automatic trip assembly 250 also provides a thermal tripping operation.
- the thermal tripping operation of an automatic trip assembly 250 is attributable to the reaction of bimetal 254 to current flowing therethrough.
- the temperature of bimetal 254 is proportional to the magnitude of the electrical current. As current magnitude increases, the heat buildup in bimetal 254 has a tendency to cause a bottom portion 254A (see Figures 6A and 6B) to deflect (bend) to the left (as viewed in Figure 3). When non-overcurrent conditions exist, this deflection is minimal. However, above a predetermined current level, the temperature of bimetal 254 will exceed a threshold temperature whereby the deflection of bimetal 254 causes bottom portion 254A to make contact with one of thermal trip bars or members 142 of trip bar assembly 122. This contact forces assembly 122 to rotate in the clockwise direction, thereby releasing cradle 94 which leads to the TRIPPED disposition.
- the predetermined current level (overcurrent) that causes this thermal tripping operation can be adjusted in a conventional manner by changing the size and/or shape of bimetal 254. Furthermore, adjustment can be made by selectively screwing a screw 264 (see Figures 6A and 6B) through an opening in bottom portion
- thermo trip member 254A such that it protrudes to a certain extent through the other side (towards thermal trip member 142). Protruding as such, screw 264 is positioned to more readily contact thermal trip member 142 (and thus rotate assembly 122) when bimetal 254 deflects, thus selectively reducing the amount of deflection that is necessary to cause the thermal tripping operation.
- the present invention provides yet another method of adjustment of the thermal tripping operation and, in particular, one which is externally controlled. Referring now to Figure 7, shown is trip bar assembly 122 in a partially disassembled state. In particular, thermal trip members 142 are shown removed from trip bar 140.
- Members 142 are attached to a bar 352, forming a thermal trip slider 350 that is removable from a recess or cavity 310 within trip bar 140 when trip bar 140 is removed from base 12 (housing portions 275 shown in Figure 2 abut against the bottom of trip bar 140 and prevent thermal trip slider 350 from falling out of recess 310 when circuit breaker 10 is in its assembled state).
- recess 310 is accessible by way of an opening 320 running lengthwise along the underside of trip bar 140, and by way of a more limited opening 330 located on the top of trip bar 140 as shown in Figure 8 (wherein accessory trip levers 148 have been removed for the sake of clarity).
- thermal trip slider 350 includes a neck 354 attached to bar 352 and which leads to a head portion 356 including a first prong 358 and a second prong 360 forming a recess 362.
- each thermal trip member 142 includes a contact region 364 on the side of thermal trip slider 350 shown in Figure 9, including a non-raised portion 366 and a raised portion 368.
- trip bar 140 and thermal trip slider 350 are each formed of thermoset plastic material.
- FIG. 10A shown is a partially cut-away view of trip bar 140 showing the internal structure of recess 310.
- Recess 310 is shown bounded by sidewalls 370A and 370B, an upper wall 372, and neck sidewalls
- FIG. 10B shown is the partially cut-away view of trip bar 140 of Figure 10A with thermal trip slider 350 in its assembled position therein. As shown, the top of bar 352 of slider 350 abuts against upper wall 372, with neck 354 positioned between neck sidewalls 374 and head portion 356 protruding out of opening 330. In the position of thermal trip slider 350 shown in Figure 10B, neck 354 abuts against neck sidewall 374B, with cutout 376 providing clearance for prong 358 of head portion 356.
- thermal trip slider 350 is close to abutting sidewall 370B of trip bar 140, although contact is not made in the exemplary embodiment.
- thermal trip slider 350 can be moved, or slid, in the direction of the arrow labeled "A" until neck 354 abuts against neck sidewall 374A, at which time slider 350 will also be close to abutting sidewall 370A.
- FIG. 11 shown is a partially exploded view of automatic trip assembly 250C of circuit breaker 10.
- assembly 250C is slightly different from automatic trip assemblies 250A, 250B, and 250D (shown collectively in Figure 4).
- yoke 252 of assembly 250C includes a pivot support 380 that is configured differently from its counterparts in the other automatic trip assemblies.
- Pivot support 380 is thicker and protrudes to a greater extent away from the other components of automatic trip assembly 250C.
- Pivot support 380 also includes a horizontally- extending protrusion 382 which, in the exemplary embodiment, is square in cross-section.
- Automatic trip assembly 250C also includes an adjustment or actuating lever 390 and a bushing 404.
- lever 390 includes a main body 392 with a circular opening 394 therethrough.
- the top of lever 390 is bent at an approximately 90 degree angle and includes a first prong 396 and a second prong 398 between which is formed a recess 400.
- the bottom of lever 390 is tapered and is bent at an approximately 90 degree angle to form an arm 402.
- a rounded body portion 404A of bushing 404 is inserted into rounded opening 394 of lever 390 until the inner surface of a head portion 404B of bushing 404 is contacted.
- Protrusion 382 of yoke 252 is then inserted into an opening or channel 404C extending through bushing 404, after which the end portion of protrusion 382 protruding through channel 404C is spin pressed in order to retain bushing 404 (and therefore lever 390) on protrusion 382.
- lever 390 is capable of rotation, with protrusion 382 serving as the pivot axis and rounded body portion 404A of bushing 404 serving as the bearing surface.
- pivot support 380 protruding to a greater extent away from the other components of assembly 250C, lever 390 can rotate without the possibility of interfering with those other components, most notably armature 256.
- a fully assembled automatic trip assembly 250C is shown in Figure 4 and Figures 17A and 17B.
- lever 390 is formed of metal and bushing 404 is formed of thermoplastic material.
- Hole 28B is shown as including a ledge 410 that extends substantially around the circumference thereof and which terminates at stops 412 and 414. Also shown is an adjustment knob 420 which inserts into hole 28B.
- adjustment knob 420 includes a rounded top 422 having a slot 424, a circular middle plate 426, and a rounded bottom 428 from which protrudes a semi-circular protrusion 430. Positioned between bottom 428 and middle plate 426 is an abutment member 432. When adjustment knob 420 is inserted into hole 28B of primary cover 14, semi-circular protrusion 430 protrudes beneath a bottom surface (not shown) of primary cover 14. In addition, middle plate 426 makes abutting contact with the top surface of primary cover 14 that is adjacent to hole 28B, and abutment member 432 is situated in contact with ledge 410.
- adjustment knob 420 may be rotated by way of a tool such as a screwdriver inserted into slot 424, whereby abutment member 432 abuts against stops 412 and 414 at the two extremes of the range of rotation.
- connection member 440 includes a rounded body 442 with an opening 444 extending therethrough having a semi-circular shape that corresponds to the shape of protrusion 430 of adjustment knob 420. Extending from the bottom of body 442 is a cylindrical protrusion 446 which, in the exemplary embodiment, includes a rounded point at its end. For reasons discussed below, protrusion 446 is not centered in the bottom of body 442.
- connection member 440 is matingly attached in press fit fashion to semi-circular protrusion 430 of knob 420 (which protrudes beneath a bottom surface of primary cover 14), with protrusion 430 inserting into opening 444.
- the resulting interconnection is shown in Figure 16 where primary cover 14 (normally positioned therebetween) is not shown for the sake of illustration.
- the diameter of connection member 440 is large enough such that it will abut the aforementioned bottom surface of primary cover 14 and prevent adjustment knob 420 from being removed upwardly out of hole 28B.
- connection member 440 will likewise rotate.
- adjustment knob 420 and connection member 440 are formed of thermoplastic material.
- lever 390 of automatic trip assembly 250C is positioned such that arm 402 thereof is positioned between prongs 358 and 360 and within recess 362 of head portion 356 of thermal trip slider 350 (the other automatic trip assemblies are not shown for the sake of clarity).
- lever 390 of automatic trip assembly 250C is positioned such that arm 402 thereof is positioned between prongs 358 and 360 and within recess 362 of head portion 356 of thermal trip slider 350 (the other automatic trip assemblies are not shown for the sake of clarity).
- the interconnection of adjustment knob 420 and connection member 440 is positioned above lever 390 of automatic trip assembly 250C.
- protrusion 446 of connection member 440 is vertically positioned within recess 400 formed between prongs 396 and 398 of lever 390.
- connection member 440 As adjustment knob 420 is rotated by way of a tool such as a screwdriver inserted into slot 424, protrusion 446 of connection member 440, because of its off-center position, does not occupy the same position relative to the axis of rotation of knob 420.
- the corresponding rotation of connection member 440 causes protrusion 446 to move along an arc-shaped path such as that depicted by the successive positions of protrusion 446 shown in Figures 18A, 18B, and 18C where adjustment knob 420 has been rotated clockwise through approximately 180 degrees representing its full range of motion.
- protrusion 446 As adjustment knob 420 is rotated by way of a tool such as a screwdriver inserted into slot 424, protrusion 446 of connection member 440, because of its off-center position, does not occupy the same position relative to the axis of rotation of knob 420.
- the corresponding rotation of connection member 440 causes protrusion 446 to move along an arc-shaped path such as that depicted
- lever 390 contact is made between protrusion 446 and either prong 396 or prong 398 (within recess 400) which moves the top of lever 390 which then causes lever 390 to rotate about its pivot axis.
- the range of rotation of lever 390 is best shown in Figures 17A and 17B (wherein adjustment knob 420 and connection member 440 are not shown for the sake of clarity).
- the position of lever 390 shown in Figure 17A corresponds to the position of protrusion 446 shown in Figure 18A
- the position of lever 390 shown in Figure 17B corresponds to the position of protrusion 446 shown in Figure 18C.
- thermal trip slider 350 As lever 390 is caused to rotate due to the rotation of adjustment knob 420 in the manner described above, arm 402 at the bottom of lever 390 contacts head portion 356 of thermal trip slider 350 which causes thermal trip slider 350 to slide within recess 310 of trip bar 140, in the manner described above in connection with Figures 10A and 10B. It should be noted that the position of thermal trip slider 350 in Figure 10B corresponds to its position shown in Figure 17A. As thermal trip slider 350 slides as such, thermal trip members 142 of thermal trip slider 350 are moved in relation to stationary automatic trip assemblies 250A, 250B, 250C, and 250D.
- thermal trip slider 350 adjusts the positioning of contact regions 364 of thermal trip members 142 (see Figure 9) in relation to the positioning of front portions 264A of screws 264, where screws 264 have been screwed to a certain extent through bimetals 254 (only screws 264 and bimetals 254 of automatic trip assemblies 250C and 250D, and the portion of slider 350 corresponding thereto, are shown for the sake of clarity).
- each of raised portions 368 of contact regions 364 is positioned to make contact with a corresponding screw 264 if the bimetal 254 (to which that screw 264 is attached) were to bend due to an overcurrent condition, with a distance d1 separating raised portions 368 from screws 264.
- each of non-raised portions 366 of contact regions 364 is positioned to make contact with a corresponding screw 264 if the bimetal 254 (to which that screw 264 is attached) were to bend due to an overcurrent condition, with a distance d2 separating non-raised portions 366 from screws 264. Because distance d1 is less than distance d2, bimetals 254 need to deflect to a lesser extent when trip mechanism 64 is in the configuration shown in Figure 19A than when trip mechanism 64 is in the configuration shown in Figure 19B, in order for contact to be made with contact regions 364 whereby trip bar assembly 122 is rotated to thereby generate a thermal tripping operation.
- the predetermined threshold current level (overcurrent) capable of causing a thermal tripping operation is lower for the configuration of trip mechanism 64 shown in Figure 19A than for the configuration shown in Figure 19B.
- rotating externally-positioned adjustment knob 420 causes lever 390 to rotate which causes thermal trip slider 350 to slide which adjusts the positioning of contact regions 364 of thermal trip members 142 in relation to the positioning of screws 264 of automatic trip assemblies 250A, 250B, 250C, and 250D.
- the thermal tripping operation of circuit breaker 10 can be adjusted. Because this adjustment is externally controlled, it advantageously does not require circuit breaker 10 to be opened. The adjustment also advantageously does not require the entire trip bar assembly 122 to slide within the housing of circuit breaker 10.
- two levels of externally controlled adjustment are provided for the thermal tripping operation.
- one or more sets of additional raised portions may be added in step-wise fashion (each set raised to a differing extent) to contact regions 364 of thermal trip members 142, whereby movement of thermal trip slider 350 in the manner described above would be precisely controlled so that, at different angles of rotation of adjustment knob 420, a different set of raised portions (or the non-raised portions 366) would be aligned to make contact with screws 264.
- Each set of additional raised portions would thus add an additional level of externally controlled adjustment to the thermal tripping operation of circuit breaker 10.
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Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA002428596A CA2428596A1 (en) | 2000-11-10 | 2001-11-07 | Circuit interrupter with thermal trip adjustability |
BR0115466-4A BR0115466A (en) | 2000-11-10 | 2001-11-07 | Thermal Trip Adjustable Circuit Breaker |
EP01982635A EP1332507A1 (en) | 2000-11-10 | 2001-11-07 | Circuit interrupter with thermal trip adjustability |
AU2002214177A AU2002214177B2 (en) | 2000-11-10 | 2001-11-07 | Circuit interrupter with thermal trip adjustability |
AU1417702A AU1417702A (en) | 2000-11-10 | 2001-11-07 | Circuit interrupter with thermal trip adjustability |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/710,244 | 2000-11-10 | ||
US09/710,244 US6445274B1 (en) | 2000-11-10 | 2000-11-10 | Circuit interrupter with thermal trip adjustability |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2002039474A1 true WO2002039474A1 (en) | 2002-05-16 |
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ID=24853216
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IB2001/002091 WO2002039474A1 (en) | 2000-11-10 | 2001-11-07 | Circuit interrupter with thermal trip adjustability |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6445274B1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1332507A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1265415C (en) |
AU (2) | AU2002214177B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BR0115466A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2428596A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002039474A1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA200304478B (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN103903927A (en) * | 2014-04-21 | 2014-07-02 | 云南追梦科技有限公司 | Circuit breaker with adjustable rated currents |
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US6816055B2 (en) * | 2001-01-31 | 2004-11-09 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Adjusting device for a thermal trip element |
US6661329B1 (en) * | 2002-06-13 | 2003-12-09 | Eaton Corporation | Adjustable thermal trip assembly for a circuit breaker |
DE602004007522T2 (en) * | 2004-10-01 | 2008-03-13 | Hager Electro S.A. | Adjustable drive for a power line protection device |
US7154361B2 (en) * | 2005-05-04 | 2006-12-26 | General Electric Company | Accessories for a rotatable latching shaft of a circuit breaker |
US7205871B1 (en) * | 2005-10-19 | 2007-04-17 | Eaton Corporation | Circuit breaker intermediate latch |
US7586395B2 (en) * | 2007-04-05 | 2009-09-08 | Eaton Corporation | Electrical switching apparatus and trip actuator assembly therefor |
DE102008017472A1 (en) * | 2007-04-28 | 2008-11-06 | Abb Ag | Service switching device |
DE102008009198A1 (en) * | 2007-04-30 | 2008-11-06 | Abb Ag | Transmission shaft for a service switching device |
KR100881365B1 (en) * | 2007-08-07 | 2009-02-02 | 엘에스산전 주식회사 | Trip sensitivity adjusting method for thermal overload protection apparatus |
KR100905021B1 (en) * | 2007-08-07 | 2009-06-30 | 엘에스산전 주식회사 | Thermal overload trip apparatus and trip sensitivity adjusting method for the same |
AT509250A1 (en) * | 2008-03-05 | 2011-07-15 | Moeller Gebaeudeautomation Gmbh | SWITCHGEAR |
AT509280A1 (en) * | 2008-03-05 | 2011-07-15 | Moeller Gebaeudeautomation Gmbh | SWITCHGEAR |
JP2010232058A (en) * | 2009-03-27 | 2010-10-14 | Fuji Electric Fa Components & Systems Co Ltd | Thermal overload relay |
JP4706772B2 (en) * | 2009-03-27 | 2011-06-22 | 富士電機機器制御株式会社 | Thermal overload relay |
JP4906881B2 (en) * | 2009-03-27 | 2012-03-28 | 富士電機機器制御株式会社 | Thermal overload relay |
KR101513210B1 (en) * | 2013-11-11 | 2015-04-17 | 엘에스산전 주식회사 | Over current relay |
US20160240335A1 (en) * | 2015-02-17 | 2016-08-18 | General Electric Company | Circuit breaker crossbar assembly and method |
US9595410B2 (en) * | 2015-03-05 | 2017-03-14 | Siemens Industry, Inc. | Circuit breaker including adjustable instantaneous trip level and methods of operating same |
CN105319499B (en) * | 2015-09-18 | 2018-08-21 | 温州深科检测设备有限公司 | A kind of positioning system of miniature circuit breaker overload protection automatic detection production line |
KR200491965Y1 (en) * | 2016-05-04 | 2020-07-08 | 엘에스일렉트릭(주) | Adjustable thermal trip mechanism for circuit breaker |
CN205789807U (en) * | 2016-06-27 | 2016-12-07 | 施耐德电器工业公司 | A kind of hot dropout collocation structure |
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- 2001-11-07 AU AU2002214177A patent/AU2002214177B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2001-11-07 AU AU1417702A patent/AU1417702A/en active Pending
- 2001-11-07 BR BR0115466-4A patent/BR0115466A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2001-11-07 EP EP01982635A patent/EP1332507A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-11-07 CN CNB018186718A patent/CN1265415C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2001-11-07 CA CA002428596A patent/CA2428596A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-11-07 WO PCT/IB2001/002091 patent/WO2002039474A1/en active IP Right Grant
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2003
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GB1600024A (en) * | 1978-05-12 | 1981-10-14 | Dorman Smith Switchgear Ltd | Electric circuit breakers |
US4642597A (en) * | 1984-12-06 | 1987-02-10 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Overcurrent relay |
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CN103903927A (en) * | 2014-04-21 | 2014-07-02 | 云南追梦科技有限公司 | Circuit breaker with adjustable rated currents |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2002214177B2 (en) | 2006-05-18 |
CA2428596A1 (en) | 2002-05-16 |
EP1332507A1 (en) | 2003-08-06 |
BR0115466A (en) | 2004-02-17 |
CN1265415C (en) | 2006-07-19 |
ZA200304478B (en) | 2004-08-23 |
CN1475022A (en) | 2004-02-11 |
AU1417702A (en) | 2002-05-21 |
US6445274B1 (en) | 2002-09-03 |
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